Winterising

This weekend I helped the mumster make the bed ready for the winter season - which was good as the temperatures have been dropping and mum has had to turn the bedroom heater and the heat pump on.  Last night I clung to her like a limpet, keeping close and hanging on.  So now on the bed, we have her duvet, two thin quilts and a big fleecy blanket.  Nice and cosy is how we like it.

We have had a quiet night at home which was nice, and mum is trying to bulk out the dinner with lots more veg.  A big serving of broccoli and some peas and corn with some italian sausage which she must say she enjoyed.  There are more leftover veg for tomorrow night, with some Hoki fish.  Then there will be steak and salad for Weds and Thurs night.  Good on you mum - you can eat my share of greens too!!

Hope you are all having a lovely Monday too.

Slow Sunday

Me and my mousie just hung out with mum at home today.  She opened the doors and windows to let the breeze blow in, and popped pyjamas and dressing gown on the washing line.  Mum relaxed, had a late brunch, and considered heading out, then considered staying home and then chose to stay with me - yippee.

She is in the process of sorting out her winter clothes, time to swap over and dig the boots out and put the shorts and tshirts away for a few months.  It is always good to clean out the wardrobe - I love digging around in there.

So a quiet night for us, mum made some sausages and vegetables and dished out my feast.  The evenings are getting much cooler now and we are happy to head to bed to snuggle together.  I am pretty keen now to sleep right next to mum and keep warm.

Hope you are all having a nice Sunday too.

Hahaha it's Caturday!!

Hahaha this photo cracks mum up.  Looks like I was having a good laugh too!!!  Caturday is awesome.

Mum says sleeping in and then sitting in her dressing gown eating a bagel with smoked salmon while watching Scandal is a great way to spend the morning.  We even got some sun shine after a week of rain.   Last Saturday it was super hot and sunny, but there is a chill in the air this week, and for the first time in months the washing on the line didn't get dry.

Mum then went for a walk to enjoy the sunshine, which she enjoyed the people watching and the window shopping.

Home for  a dinner of fridge leftovers for her and a feast for me.  A bit of tele again, and now she has to make the bed at 11:45pm, so she can pop into it to read for a short time.

For our friends around the world - if your Caturday is just starting - we hope you have a fabulous day!!

Friday Middle Aged Lady Party Night

Yeah it's middle aged lady party night here!!!  That means throw some pork wontons in the air fryer, mix up some chilli sauce and watch the news on tv!!!  Go you wild thing!  Then if you are really feeling crazy, get some dishes soaking in the sink, feed the cat,  get a load of washing on and watch the real housewifes of New Jersey at the same time - in your pyjamas.  OMG the craziness!!

Then for a wind down wash your face and exfoliate, but a face mask on and watch Hugh Jackman and David Beckham on the Graham Norton Show while eating a single serve cheesecake.

Then if you can stand it - hang the washing out, finish putting the groceries away, tidy up the living room and then pick out some undies and a bra to wear tomorrow.  Switch the lights out and snuggle up to the cat on the bed while reading your book, before lights out at midnight.

Wow - she sure knows how to rock a Friday night.  Hope you are all having as much fun as us!!

Naughty Neighbours

Yesterday after a busy work day mum was walking along the street and ran into the neighbours that had had the big shouty match a week or so ago.  She got introduced to the neighbours partner, and mum said hi and was tempted to tell them to have a good night but to try not to fight, but thought that she would be polite and not mention anything.

So she was yawning and finished her book around 11pm last night and was looking forward to a big sleep.  Guess who got home around then?  Guess who locked someone out of the house and spent the next hour or two knocking on the door?  Guess who finally got let in at 1:30 am when they threatened to scream?

You wouldn't guess they were in their sixties - not warring teenagers but actual grownups.  Next time mum sees them she will say something.

On a nice note, mum made herself a big fried rice with bacon and chicken and lots of veg with fridge and freezer bits and pieces last night and has enjoyed that for the past few meals.  Yum.  Me - I enjoyed my feast!!

Wordless Wednesday

Pillow Problem

There are 9 pillows in the house, and mum is busy trying them all in a bid to stop her restless sleeping. She does think the sleeping issues are probably middle aged lady related, but she would like more than a few hours at a time.  She did see a lovely pillow in town but it was $300 for a pillow!!!!  She did  buy a memory foam one to try, but it doesn't seem to help.

She did stop into the supermarket tonight, just to get some feast for me, and some bread for her sandwiches for work during the week.  Tonight, she used some pasta in the fridge with a tomato/parmesan/pine nut sauce that was lovely.  She is on a bid to use some of the food in the fridge/pantry/freezer instead of shopping more at the supermarket.

Work Eve

Hahaha mum found this old photo of me caught surprised relaxing on her bed.  I do like to sleep in her spot on the bed - smells nice.

It was cloudy and a bit so so here today, and as mum has been out for a walk the past three days decided it would be best to spend the day relaxing at home, as her legs have been a bit sore.  She also knew that if she went out, she would feel the need to spend some money.  Instead she should eat up the leftovers in the fridge and not spend any money until payday next week.  Good budget advice mum.

So us girls took it easy - the book was finished, the dishes done, and the uniform got all ready for her to wear tomorrow morning.  At least it will be a short week.

Hope you all got some relaxing done too!!

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter everybuddy - please forgive the recycled photo, but hey we still like it!!

Last night was a lunar eclipse, well really it was this morning at 1am so mum kept us awake to see it.  We wish we had a better camera, as ours doesn't do sky photos well at all.  Then our clocks 'sprung back' as daylights saving ended here in little New Zealand.

We had a blissful sleep in, then mum went for  a bit of a hilly walk and went to the cinema to see The Woman in Gold, with Ryan Reynolds and Helen Mirren.  She enjoyed it a lot, worthy of a 5/5.  She even had a couple of tears in her eyes and her lips were doing the old wobbly thing, but luckily no sobs and the mascara didn't run.  She thinks the trick with cinema crying is not to rub her eyes, if she rubs them they look all red and horrid, but if the tears just roll down the makeup can still look normal.

So then home to keep me company, a little book reading, a little tele and some home cooking and off to bed.  What a relaxing Easter weekend it has been for us girls.  Hope you are all enjoying your break too!!!

Do you get some time off work for Easter?  Our mum gets a 4 day break which is awesome.

xxx

Easter Caturday - Leather Lover

Happy Caturday kitty friends.  Hope you are all relaxing and enjoying your day.  I have been spending the day lazing in bed with my new love - my mums handbag.  I loves it.  I spent all last night clutching it and am asleep on top of it now as mum types this out.  Don't judge.

Hope you all get to spend the weekend with somebuddy you love too - even if it is just a handbag!!!

Loving the leather,
Poppy Q

Mouthful of Mouse

Thats right kitty cats - I caught me a mouse this afternoon.  Right after dinner - you may call it dessert.   We had a great day.  Lovely warm weather.  Mum had a wee sleep in, then it was getting the chores and washing done, so that the weekend would be free for fun.  The landlords came round to fix some plumbing and then mums friends came for a visit.  Mum and the friends went off into town to visit the Te Papa Museum that was having a Meccano show and a Air New Zealand show.  They did like looking at all the Meccano sets made up, and imagined all the men that made them had big old sheds at home, and spend many hours and dollars getting things together.

After mum made her dinner (lemon chicken risotto - a good old standby) I got my feast, but then mum chased me out the cat door as I started to do the old cat puking noises and doing that strange stretch that comes before a big old vomitus.  Twenty minutes later she caught me trying to charge back into the house with a mouthful of mouse, the camera wasn't handy so luckily it is not rerecorded.  She chased me outside, and I sat and played.  When mum looked out the window she realised the mouse was not deaded, so she grabbed me to give the mouse a chance to get away (outside).  I did manage to trap it again, before mum grabbed me a second time.

So after all that adrenaline action I am just plain tuckered out, and me and mum are hitting the sack at 10:30.  She is enjoying her book and wants to read a bit before lights out.

Happy hunting my furriends!!!

Hello April

Hello April, you snuck up on us teasing us with some lovely sunny warm weather, reminders of the summer that is slipping away.  Still it has been nice for mum to leave the jacket at home and not need the umbrella.  She knows the signs are there, the leaves are changing colours, and I moved from my warm sleeping spots to back on the mumster bed.  A sure sign the seasons are changing.

I am also busy trying to tell mum something very important.  I keep miowing at her - but silly human doesn't get it.  She knows I am not sick, as I am pretty happy, it is just that there are things to say and she's not listening although she is trying to figure it out.

We are so glad of our Easter four day holiday - how lucky are we!!!  Visits with friends, good books to read and maybe a movie, and of course chocolate treats!  For mum that is!!!

Wordless Wednesday - I do love to pose like this!!

Today

Awww she was on shift again, and did a supermarket run before heading home, so I only just got my dinner before midnight!!!!  So me and mum will head to bed soon, shift tomorrow so us girls can have a sleep in.  Only two more days of work, then she gets a four day Easter break and dinner at a normal time.

Working Week

The working week has begun again for mum, although she got to chill out and spend the morning with me.  The sun was shining so us girls opened the windows and doors and let the autumn breeze in.  Mum had a late shower and then crawled back to bed to finish off her book.  She did laugh, as I lay down with my back paws against her arm.  You know the kitty rule - I can touch you but if you lay down and touch me, I will get annoyed and run away or roll over.

So that means mum gets to head to bed tonight and start a new book before bed.  Middle aged lady joy.

Relaxed Sunday

This Sunday was dedicated to relaxation.  Mum made sure that there was no alarm clock to wake up to this morning, especially as her early night last night turned into a 2am go to bed.  So waking up at 9am was very nice.   A few chores were done, and even though the weather man said rain and thunder, the clouds cleared enough that washing was dried on the line outside.

Mum had a veg soup and bagel for her brunch and made a beef/rice/veg all in one dish for dinner that she said was tasty.  I begged for treats (I am on the Friskees treats at the moment), and had my fancy feast for dinner so our tummies were full.

Mum got to relax, read her book, watch a movie (Pompei - a bit silly but entertaining) and now is watching the cricket.  It is not looking great for our Kiwi team, we are getting outplayed by the Australians, Oh well - we did good to make it to the final.

Hope you are all relaxing, setting aside the chores and taking some me time for toady.

Casual Caturday

Mum was all revved up last night to head to bed early, but the sleep wouldn't come so she tossed and turned and read her book til close to 3am before her eyes closed.  She had somewhere to be this morning, and it was a rude awakening for her to be up at 8am, but she enjoyed the morning, having brunch with a bestie and going to see A Little Chaos at the cinema.  By this time the rain was swirling, and so the girls enjoyed their day out.

Mum then went for  a wee afternoon walk and a visit to the supermarket.  So addictive when it is at the end of our street.  She got  a few treats for tomorrow - for Sunday is the Cricket world cup final Australia Vs New Zealand, and the first time ever that New Zealand has made it to the final.  Twelve hours of fun!!! The game that is.

So the plan for Sunday is to stay home as the weather is meant to be dismal.  Housework in the day time with a few breaks for food and book reading, the then we will camp out to watch the cricket.

She is feeling drowsy now as she resisted the urge to nap this afternoon, and I have already taken myself off to bed at 7pm, as the bedroom is quiet and peaceful for a few hours and my tummy is full after fancy feast dinner.

Enjoy your Caturday everybuddy.

PS - we saw the neighbour today, so he survived the big fight during the week, although the girlfriend is not around, so maybe she has been kicked out?  They are both in their sixties, and should know better.

TGIF

Thank goodness it is Friday.  From a cloudy morning, it then turned sunny and mum was glad to have washing on the line.  She went to the movies to see The Theory of Everything and loved it.  She got to meet her lovely niece and drink Mexican Cola and share some tacos.  The niece got a gift of a Lindt Easter Bunny and some vitamins - essential fare for a university student.

Me I got some rest and relaxation in while mum was out and am now camped on her bed.  Sweet dreams everybuddy.

Neighbours

Our house is very close to the house next door.  Last night at about 10:45pm mum got a call that she had to head back into work, and at the same time the neighbours came home.  He is older and used to work at mums workplace, and she seems new, mum hasn't seen her before.  They seem to like a little drink or two or ten, and mum had seen them heading off somewhere around 5pm as she returned from the library.

Well, the noise was rather loud as he wouldn't let her in the house and she was screaming at how evil he was, and how she wouldn't put up with it, and he was yelling back.  He told her to quiet down as he had nice neighbours, and she replied that she couldn't care less what the neighbours thought.

Well this neighbour lady was pretty close to calling the police, but she had to go to work for an urgent job.  When mum got home the house next door was quiet, and she did peek over the fence to check there was no bodies or blood lying around.  Scary huh!!!  Don't worry, mum would have no hesitation in calling the police if she thought it was necessary.

Wordless Wednesday = Grey

Camping

Sometimes it is good to take it easy and camp out.  Mum sat up late and watched the Kiwis play South Africa in the word cup cricket semi final tonight.  It was nail biting stuff, and she felt like crying at the end it was so emotional - and she doesn't usually like watching much sport.  After all that adrenaline from watching she hopes she will sleep well.

Snoozefest

After three nights of disruptive sleep when mum has been on call, tonight we get a chance to turn the lights out and snuggle down.  Since the winter bedding has been on the bed, I have spent each night sharing with  mum, although I do prefer to sleep in her spot, and the minute she moves I dive in beside the pillows on the flannel sheet.

Slow Sunday

So after sunshine yesterday, the clouds and rain returned today, which made both of us feel not the slightest bit guilty about being super lazy.  That and the fact that mum was at work til 4am.  So us girls took it easy, and mum took a slow shower at 10am and moved from the bedroom to the couch soon after.  She caught up on watching the Downton Abbey Christmas Special, is up to date on the Walking Dead and a few other shows.  She read her book and was very relaxed, which was good as the phone goes back on for on call in ten minutes time.

Hope you a had a nice slow Sunday too.

Caturday Chores

  1st Chore - Check that your mum can pull the sheets up properly.  Mum you missed this corner!!

 2nd Chore - Sniff the new bed linen to make sure is smells right and wil suit us.

 3rd Chore - Bunny kick the new bed linen to show it who's the boss.  I'm the boss!!!!

4th Chore - Pose on the new bed linen like a model and show mum where the blankets must go.

Today was a warm and sunny Caturday, so mum pumped through a few loads of washing.  The nights are cooling down, and so the summer bed linen got washed and put away and the bed layered up with some winter warmth.

Mum then spent the afternoon going for a walk, and a visit to the library and enjoying the warm afternoon sunshine and got home in time to get the washing in before it cooled down and to feed me my feast.

Hope you all had a lovely Caturday too!!

Friday Night Movie Night - Didga the Worlds Best Skateboarding Cat

The mumster is busy working tonight, so she thought she should treat me to a movie.   Check out this cat Didgas tricks - awesome!!

Autumn

Last night we got a taste of the autumn season, as temperatures dropped.  Our heater had to be on in the evening, and I even creeped into mums room for a snuggle between the quilts for about two hours.  Mum quite likes the cooler evenings at sleep time, but she struggles with being cold when heading for the shower in the morning.

Tonight was a quiet one, mum was glad to have been able to buy some yummy foods as the cupboards were almost bare.  Tonight she made herself a small steak with a spinach/orange/cucumber salad and made me a fancy feast.  Tasty!!!

Now we are watching a couple of shows and mum is waiting to see if I want a snuggle again tonight.

Wordless Wednesday - Southern Lights over Wanaka

             Source : Liz Carlson / NZ Herald

St Patricks Day Bad Bling Fail

Beware of this cautionary tale of bad bad motherhood - enter if you dare!!!

The mumster bought this expensive St Patricks day bling bling to wear today, and thought in her middle aged wisdom that I might look lovely in it for a picture.  I did look lovely, but I am not trained like many of my costumed friends, so I took off through the cat door wearing the bling bling.  Mum tried to entice me in to take it off, but that made me run faster and round the side of the house and down the stairs.  In fact she had to wait two hours for me to come back so she could take the bling bling away.

Now mum feels real bad - she did not want me to get stuck in the necklace or get hurt.  She is normally very careful with such things.

So she went into town to meet her niece and tell her about our afternoon adventures - boy did she laugh!!!

Chilled

Well our city only got a bit of rain, and the wind has picked up tonight, but it was just a usual autumnish day for us.  It was a pleasure to have mum home all day and all night, and we parked ourselves on the couch for most of the day, with some books and tv shows it was relaxing and just what mum needed.

We hope you have a relaxing start to your week too.

Bunkering Down

Well the end of the busy weekend has come and almost gone.  Mum worked a couple of busy shifts, but they went well and although they were steady the time went fast.   The family arrived and it was lovely to spend time with them, although mum is a bit dog tired, as there were a couple of late nights.

I camped out the back most of the time, although I was brave and came in and slept on the couch last night and even stayed there when big uncle got up out of bed to use the bathroom and walked right by me.  I also sat on my sister in laws knee this morning, until I sniffed her and realised that she wasn't my mum.  Go me!!!

So there is a bit of a big cyclone - cyclone Pam  heading towards NZ tomorrow, the one that has already caused a lot of devastation in Fiji.    They are not forecasting  too bad a weather where we live, and mum is lucky as she has tomorrow off, so is planning to stick to staying home, although if it is fine in the morning she may attempt to head out for some quick jobs.  Luckily we have lots of supplies at home, so feel quite happy to stay in the house if the weather is terrible.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend and are looking forward to the week ahead.

Hiding

The family have arrived for a visit, and even though I popped in and said hello last visit, I am  being a shy girl and hiding from them tonight.  Luckily there is a big pile of biscuits and water out for me, but mum wishes I was tucked up and snoozing where she knew I was safe.

Thursday

Thursday has rolled around again, and it is almost the weekend.  We will be a bit busy this weekend with work and family, so forgive the secretary if we don't get to post.  I'll be hiding under the deck probably.

Middle Aged Lady Brain

Mum is not impressed with her middle aged lady brain.  She went to put the rubbish out tonight, but no rubbish bags.  At 9.15pm.  Luckily there is a supermarket at the end of the street.  Which mum was at after work.  Not impressed.

Then after hiking down the 45 steps outside our place to get the bags, going to the supermarket and climbing back up the steps, she will then have to take the bags out.

Seriously not impressed.

Me - I'll just have a nap while she gets busy.

PS it is 11pm almost and mum is just putting out the rubbish now.  On her supermarket run she bought two lots of rubbish bags, some new plastic containers for fruit, stock,  insect spray, some crackers, some pears,  moisturiser and a new wok.  Mum thinks you shouldn't shop when tired, but oh well it was nice for her to get some fresh airs.

Just chilling

Just chilling on the couch.  Mum found these tea towels at a funky home store, and now she uses them on the arms of the couch to keep them clean and stop me scratching them.  I likes to lie on them and snooze.

What?

What do you think of my seepy disturbed face - not the usual Poppy Q face is it?  Mum loves it just the same.

What she did not love was the 6am work alarm clock this morning, and the prospect of the 5am wake up call tomorrow.  Luckily she is dog tired, and may hit the sack before 10pm tonight.

What she liked today was that for the first time ever at the supermarket there were tellers at each counter and no lines - A M A Z I N G!!!!  She also had good company at work today that made the day go faster.  The sun was also shining when she got home, so sheets were put on the line and all the washing is just about done, including summer quits, that can now be folded and put away for the cooler months, and the winter stuff aired out so it is ready to use.

Hope your week has started off well.  Think of us at 5am.

Sun Loving Sunday

As often happens this time of year, after the thunder/lightening/downpour combo of yesterday, the clouds cleared and the sun shone today rather nicely.  The menopausal bladder left mum alone this morning, and instead a headache awoke her at 8am, and after staying up late till 2am she felt surprisingly good after a solid 6 hour snooze.  She is also proud that she has resisted a Sunday afternoon nap, and hopes she will sleep ok tonight.  Me - I sucked up the sunbeams and rested where I could.

Mum toyed with the idea of going for a walk but she was a  bit sandwiched in today.  The the south of us was the local festival, full of cheap stalls and loud hipsters drumming their little beardie hearts out.  North in town was a all day three day rock/hip hop concert favoured by boy racers and girls with low self esteem.  So mum chose to spend the day chillaxing with me and doing lots of washing, finishing her book and being inspired by Nigella for an easy pasta dinner (zuccini, bacon and spring onions).

She had been meant to meet a bestie, but the bestie was poorly, and actually mum says it has been nice not to have to rush out and have the windows open all day and the breeze blowing through.

So hope you all had/have  a lovely Sunday and get some sunbeams to enjoy.